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Review: Rocky III (1982)
Having taken a respite from the ring and no doubt looking to have another hit, Sylvester Stallone returns to the fight game in Rocky III. It’s been a few years since his last great triumph at the box office, Rocky II (1979) and again Stallone serves as star, writer, and director.
Rocky III is sure to make up for his last two efforts (the 1981 releases Nighthawks and Victory) which didn’t exactly match the purses of either the 1976 original or its 1979 sequel. One might wonder how long Stallone will have to get in the ring to stay as a king of the box office mountain.
Like Rocky II, Rocky III opens with the closing moments of the previous film. You might remember that Rocky had become heavyweight champion in a hard-fought rematch against the mighty Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). If you didn’t see Rocky II, sorry for spoiling the ending.
Now he has become a big celebrity and pitches an assortment of products—I guess he has somehow overcome the near illiteracy which hampered his hopes to augment his wealth in commercials back in Rocky II; and racks up a string of victories in title fights.
Meanwhile a mohawked tough named Clubber Lang (Mr. T, a one-time celebrity bodyguard in his film debut—if you don’t include his appearing as himself in the recent Penitentiary II) has been making his presence known in fights where he all but annihilates his opponents. Lang makes no secret of his desire to destroy Balboa, as he is now the number one-ranked contender for boxing’s biggest crown.
The brute viciously taunts the champion into a match. Rocky’s trainer/ manager Mickey (Burgess Meredith, always a pleasure to watch) knows that Lang is fighter not to be taken lightly. Rocky believes he can beat the brute and vows the bout will conclude his career in the ring.
He doesn’t take training for the upcoming challenge at all seriously, much to Mickey’s chagrin. The day of the fight comes and with it, loss and heartbreak for Philadelphia’s favorite fighting son; Rocky is left dually devastated.
The former champ meets up with former ring rival and champ, Apollo Creed. The man dethroned by Balboa takes the Italian Stallion from the Keystone State to the Golden State to train for a rematch. In a smoky, sweat-soaked gym, which is home to many an up-and-comer, Rocky trains for a rematch under the combined tutlelage of Creed and his trainer Duke (Tony Burton).
Stallone looks like he’s attempting to forego the Stella Adler approach to acting for Charles Atlas route; as he looks like he’s not just trying to hold back Father Time but show Arnold Schwarzenegger that he is not the only movie muscleman in Hollywood. now might be a good time for the Italian Stallion to be put out to pasture and for Stallone to perhaps give us another franchise hero.
While packing some entertainment, this sequel seems to lack the drama of the first two films. A bit trite but never boring, Rocky III is OK and based on gates generated by the firt two, Stallone and United Artists will no doubt snare a sizable purse from summer audiences.
Robert Baum is Currently a Bryn Mawr, PA-based film afficanado and pop culture junkie.
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